 "Photo: Callie Richmond")
"Maybe I'll let you touch it, maybe I'll let you see it for a dollar or more, maybe I'll let you rush it, maybe you best believe it, because we been here before."
The wonder duo known as the second-coming of Prince, the reincarnation of hope or simply J*Davey brought a dose of L.A. sunshine to Austin last week for a performance that was over before the sun-dazed audience knew what hit them. The nature of J*Davey's music is equal parts new wave, hip-hop and funk in an equation that refuses to be defined.
Due to scheduling constraints, J*Davey rocked their poolside set at the Nylon/Guess rooftop lounge Saturday afternoon in fast-forward fashion. However, the sped-up versions of songs like "Lazy Daze," "Dollar or More" and a crunk cover of Sting & The Police's "Message in A Bottle" made an impact reaching far beyond the limits of time and space. J*Davey is essentially vocalist Jack Davey and producer Brook D'Leau, but for this show, they were accompanied by a stylish young drummer known as b. rad and none other than J*Davey "honorary member" and Suicidal Tendencies bassist Thundercat.
Currently at work on their first major label release on Warner Brothers Records, J*Davey's songs reflect the challenge of negotiating art and business.
"The song 'Dollar or More'was inspired by the process of moving from being an independent act to dealing in the major game," Davey said. "You realize that being an artist means being for purchase. It's not even about the money, it's about getting your just due."
Where does the evolution of J*Davey lead next?
"It's everywhere," D'Leau said. "We're tending to speak a universal language. Freedom. Fun. Utter carnage. Blood running in the streets. We are literally trying to evoke every emotion."
To see J*Davey performing and talking about their new album, check out www.thedailytexanblogs.com.
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